English 
Spanish Accidents can happen at any time and in any place. If you’re injured in a retailer, be it a small general store or a large box store, you may be entitled to reimbursement to cover any medical expenses. It all comes down to what happened.
Retailers have an obligation to keep the public areas safe to shoppers and others within their building or storefront. When that retailer fails to meet that obligation, they can be held liable for accidents like a slip and fall or unbalanced displays topple onto a shopper.
Here are a few interesting facts from the National Fall Safety Institute about slips and falls:
- About 6 out of 10 personal injury cases involving a slip in fall occurred on a single level. While some falls occur when someone falls on stairs or falls from another floor, more than half happen on the same floor someone is standing or walking on.
- Over 2 million falls are linked to issues with flooring like wet floors, loose carpeting, or uneven surfaces.
- Around 1 million emergency room visits are the result of someone falling and needing medical attention.
- After a fall, most people end up missing about a month of work.
- Slip and fall cases aren’t just about shoppers. About 85 percent of all worker’s comp cases involved an employee slipping on wet flooring.
What If You’re the One Who is Injured in a Store?
What if you’re the one who has fallen? Don’t move. Alert a store employee to get the manager. Ask that paramedics and an ambulance be called. You need to get treated by a doctor for any injuries. It’s best to be looked at. What seems to be a minor injury could be more than a few bruises. Always err on the side of caution and see a doctor.
While you’re waiting, get your phone and take pictures of the reason you fell or were injured. Take photos of your injuries when you can. Get the names of anyone who witnessed the situation. If you can’t take photos due to your injuries, see if a witness will do it for you. Do not agree to sign any paperwork. They may offer to cover the cost of an ER visit and ambulance ride if you release them of any future financial responsibility, don’t accept any offer yet.
Once you see and doctor and know what injuries you have, call a lawyer. If the store was negligent, the store should pay your medical bills at the very least. You may need months of therapy after a bone fracture. All of that isn’t an expense you should have to cover. A personal injury lawyer can help you decide if you have a case or if the store’s offer is reasonable.
Examples of Personal Injury Cases Against Stores
Don’t let pride or uncertainty keep you from seeking legal advice. Request a free legal consultation. Suing a store after you’ve been injured does not make you greedy. Here are some of the situations where a customer has filed a lawsuit against a store after an injury.
Sam’s Club was sued by a shopper after she fell on a wet floor within the store. While she didn’t get the amount she hoped for, she was awarded approximately $7,500 to cover her medical bills.
A California jury awarded a nurse $1.1 million for pain and suffering and $270,000 to cover medical bills after she fell in a grocery store. The 63-year-old nurse was grocery shopping when she slipped on a wet floor and injured her shoulder. She needed a shoulder replacement after the fall.
After a four-year battle, a Dollar General shopper won $1.725 million after slipping on clear laundry detergent in an aisle and broke her leg and shoulder. She’d accumulated around $500,000 in medical bills following multiple surgeries.
Trust the Personal Injury Lawyers at KJT Law Group
Even if your case isn’t related to a fall, if it’s a workplace injury or injury received in a store, you could have a valid complaint. A LA Personal injury lawyer will offer advice on what to do next.
Look for a lawyer with experience in personal injury lawsuits. Slip and fall trial experience is very important. Present your side of the case and provide the lawyer with your evidence. KJT Law Group will handle the rest of the attorneys feel you have a valid complaint against a department store. Call (818) 507-8525 or contact us for a free consultation!
